Pianoforte



R. H. COLLEN PIANOFORTE Filed July 10. 1926 llYVf/YTOR ROBERT/15m) COLLEH BY/l/S 14770R/1IYS March 27, 1928.

e S R Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,664,191 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT HENRY COLLEN, OF EAST HAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN BROADWOOD & SONS, LIMITED, 01? LONDON, ENGLAND.

PIANOFORTE.

Application filed July 10, 1926, Serial No. 121,673, and in Great Britain November 17, 1925.

This invention relates to music desks, or stands, of upright pianofortes, and has for its object to provide the said pianofortes with an improved music desk, or stand.

According to this invention the top-door, that is the removable door between the fall and the top-fiat of the pianoforte casing, is constructed in such manner that a section thereof can be swung, when desired from its normal vertical position to an inclined position, and the said section is provided at, or towards, its lower edge with a ledge, shelf, or the equivalent, so that when the said section is swung into the aforesaid inclined position it constitutes a desk, or stand, for the music.

I will describe a preferred manner of carrying the invention into effect with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows in perspective so much of a pianoforte casing as is necessary to shew the application thereto of a music desk, or stand, in accordance with this invention, the said desk, or stand, being shewn in its vertical, or out of use, position. Figure 2 is a transverse section showing the music desk, or stand, in its angular position for use,

In the construction shewn the top-door of the pianoforte casing consists of three suitably framed panels, the outer ones A of which are rigidly connected by pieces which are adapted to permit of a swinging movement of the central panel B pivotally mounted between them. This is shewn as being effected by connecting the lower part of the rear side of each of the said outer panels A at its lower edge by a rail C upon which the lower part of the central panel B abuts when the said panel is in its closed position, as shewn in Figure 1, and in securing cheeks, or distance pieces, D to the rear side of each of the said outer panels A at its upper edge and connecting the said cheeks, or distance pieces, at, or towards, their upper part by a rail E against which the upper part of the said central panel B abuts when in its inclined position as shewn in Figure 2. The central panel B may be pivotally connected to the outer panels A by trunnions (one of which is indicated at b in Figure 2) on the said central panel, which turn in bearing pieces (not shewn) provided on the said outer panels, the said trunnions and bearing pieces being situated at any desired position between the upper edge and mid-way of the height of the said panels so that when the said central panel is swung into its inclined position its lower edge moves in an arc of a circle greater than that in which its upper edge moves which, owing to the proximity of the pianoforte action, behind, can have but a limited rearward movement. Any suitably shaped ledge, or shelf F may be hinged, or otherwise secured at, or towards, the lower edge of the central panel B, and if desired, any suitable means such for example as spring-pressed balls, or the equivalent, indicated at av and a in Figure 2, may be provided for retaining the said central panel in its vertical or closed, position, or in its inclined position. When the central panel B is in its closed, or vertical, position, the topdoor has, except for the presence of the ledge or shelf F thereon, the appearance of an ordinary top-door.

The fall G of the pianoforte casing used with; music desks, or stands, in accordance with this invention, is preferably of the kind made in two longitudinal portions the rear portion g being hinged in the usual manner to the said casing and the front portion g being hinged to the said rear portion 9 in such manner that when the rear' portion is turned into its open position the front portion can be turned forward to lie on the said rear portion so as to be clear of the said music desk, or stand.

A top-door having a panel constituting a music desk, or stand, in accordance with this invention may be removably secured, as a single unit, to the pianoforte casing by the usual, or any other suitable means.

What I claim is 1. In an upright pianoforte, a top door, side sections forming part of said top door, and a central section adapted to constitute a music desk pivotally connected to said side sections, in combination with a rail connecting said side sections near their lower edges, said central section being adapted to bear against said rail when in its vertical position.

2. In an upright pianoforte, a top door, side sections forming part of said top door, a central section adapted to constitute a music desk pivotally connected to said side sections, and distance pieces secured to said side sections near their upper edges, in combination with a rail secured to said distance pieces, said central section being adapted to bear against said rail when in its inclined position secured to said distance pieces, said central for use as a music desk. section being adapted to bear against said 3. In an upright pianoforte, a top door, first named rail When in its vertical position side sections forming part of said top door, and to bear against said second rail when 6 a central section adapted to constitute a in its inclined: position for use as a music 15 music desk pivotally connected to said side desk.

sections a rail connecting said side sections In testimony whereof I have signed my near their lower edges and distance pieces name to this specification.

secured to said side sections near their upper 10 edges, in combination With a second rail ROBERT HENRY COLLEN. 

